The document provides 7 tips for dealing with a bully at work. It begins by defining bullying and identifying who bullies typically are. It then discusses how to know if you are being bullied and that you are not alone. The main tips for dealing with a bully include: assessing the situation, documenting incidents, building a support network, confronting the bully with limits, escalating the issue to HR if needed, and making a decision to change environments if the bullying persists. The document stresses remaining professional, seeking help if stressed, and knowing your legal options.

1. 7 Tips on dealing with a BULLY at work
1 Tips
2 3 4
for dealing with a BULLY
TEXT
5 6 7
in the workplace
TEXT

2. Agenda
7 Tips on dealing with a BULLY at work
1 What is bullying?
2 Who is a bully?
3 How do you know if you are being bullied?
4 You are not alone!
✓ 5
5
5 Deal with a bully: 7 Tips
6 Follow through…
7 Make a decision and plan
8 Resources
9 Q&A
Your Logo

3. What is bullying?
le
i cu e Ra
Rid bus Ha ge
A te
Repeated
es
ce
Blam
Rep
Dam tatio
iolen
deliberate
u
a ge n
V
A bully will usually
attempts to combine various types of
belittle, control or behaviour
undermine
Humiliate
someone in an Criticise
obvious or subtle
manner.

4. Who is a bully?
A bully has:
A great need to control other people, either openly or indirectly.
Usually, a bully thinks they are in a position of authority.
In the workplace, a bully could be a manager, supervisor or a colleague.
A bully’s action may be driven by envy, fear of inadequacy and insecurity about their own
competence.
A bully’s behaviour may emerge in their desire to keep any possible rivals down.
one

5. How do you know if you feel bullied at work?
e If you regularly try and avoid a particular
If you regularly try and avoid a particular
nc person at work because they put you down or
1 oid a person at work because they put you down or
Av undermine you, there is a good chance that
undermine you, there is a good chance that
Trust your instincts
you feel bullied by them.
you feel bullied by them.
on
If you regularly feel intimidated by anyone at
If you regularly feel intimidated by anyone at
ida ti
work or afraid to work near them or have
work or afraid to work near them or have
anything to do with them or their project,
anything to do with them or their project,
Int im
then you feel bullied by them.
then you feel bullied by them.
If you regularly get yelled at, criticized, put
If you regularly get yelled at, criticized, put
down, insulted or frowned upon by anyone at
down, insulted or frowned upon by anyone at
s ism
work, then, you might be at the receiving end
work, then, you might be at the receiving end
Crit i
of bullying at work.
of bullying at work.

6. You are not alone!
5 % ied
% 3
l
g b ul
in
0 lly g
bu ein
5
B
of
nce
ie
er
xp
No
e
5 % ed
1 W
i tn
ess
Data Source: The US National Survey by the Workplace Bullying
Institute (WBI)

7. Deal with a bully
o Assess the situation. Do your homework and find out everything you can
o Assess the situation. Do your homework and find out everything you can
about bullying in the workplace.
about bullying in the workplace.
1 o If it feels like bulling, name it and call it bullying!
o If it feels like bulling, name it and call it bullying!
o Keep a close eye on what is happening around the situation between you
o Keep a close eye on what is happening around the situation between you
and the person in question.
and the person in question.
o
o Don’t ignore the situation, it will not make it go away.
Don’t ignore the situation, it will not make it go away.
o
o Evaluate the situation carefully and build a support network.
Evaluate the situation carefully and build a support network.
2 o
o Discuss the situation with a trusted manager, Human Resources (HR),
Discuss the situation with a trusted manager, Human Resources (HR),
support manager, colleagues, a mentor or anyone closest to you.
support manager, colleagues, a mentor or anyone closest to you.
o Confide in someone so that they are aware and can look out for you.
o Confide in someone so that they are aware and can look out for you.
o Document and keep a log of every time you experience the bullying
3 o Document and keep a log of every time you experience the bullying
behavior or situation: document the date, time, name of person(s) present
behavior or situation: document the date, time, name of person(s) present
and details of the incident.
and details of the incident.
o If bullying occurs in an email or in any correspondence, keep the
o If bullying occurs in an email or in any correspondence, keep the
electronic e-mail and file a hard copy.
electronic e-mail and file a hard copy.
Remember that you are stronger and more resilient than you think!

8. Deal with a bully (contd.)
o Don’t play the bully’s game. Don’t stoop to the bully’s level.
o Don’t play the bully’s game. Don’t stoop to the bully’s level.
o Don’t be baited or set up for any reasons. The bully is looking for a reaction
o Don’t be baited or set up for any reasons. The bully is looking for a reaction
4 from you. When they don’t get a reaction, they may relent and stop.
from you. When they don’t get a reaction, they may relent and stop.
o Ensure that you set limits and confront the bully in the presence of a trusted
o Ensure that you set limits and confront the bully in the presence of a trusted
third party. Don’t get emotional or blame yourself in the process.
third party. Don’t get emotional or blame yourself in the process.
o Set limits on what you will tolerate and exercise your right to tell the bully to
5 o Set limits on what you will tolerate and exercise your right to tell the bully to
stop the behaviour.
stop the behaviour.
o Make statements about the bully’s conduct directly to the bully.
o Make statements about the bully’s conduct directly to the bully.
o Put the bully on notice. Keep up your game, don’t lose your temper or
o Put the bully on notice. Keep up your game, don’t lose your temper or
composure
composure
o Calmly let the bully know that you are serious about not allowing them to walk
o Calmly let the bully know that you are serious about not allowing them to walk
all over you anymore.
all over you anymore.
•
• You must speak to the bully in the presence of a trusted third party or others.
You must speak to the bully in the presence of a trusted third party or others.
•
• Calmly illustrate the behaviour you see the bully exhibit – describe what you see precisely.
Calmly illustrate the behaviour you see the bully exhibit – describe what you see precisely.
•
• Tell the bully exactly how their actions impact your work.
Tell the bully exactly how their actions impact your work.
•
• Tell the bully what behaviors you will not put up with in the future
Tell the bully what behaviors you will not put up with in the future
•
• Stick with your statement and if the bully tries to violate your space, don’t move, rather, stand
Stick with your statement and if the bully tries to violate your space, don’t move, rather, stand
your ground, maintain eye contact and confront in a professional manner if necessary.
your ground, maintain eye contact and confront in a professional manner if necessary.

9. Deal with a bully (contd.)
o Put the bully on total blast! If after you have confronted the bully and you haven’t
o Put the bully on total blast! If after you have confronted the bully and you haven’t
noticed a change, then, it is time for the next step.
noticed a change, then, it is time for the next step.
6 o With your documented log, take the issue to your HR and manager.
o With your documented log, take the issue to your HR and manager.
o Address the issue from a work perspective. Elaborate on how the behaviour is
o Address the issue from a work perspective. Elaborate on how the behaviour is
affecting your work. Inform both of how important the issue is and must be
affecting your work. Inform both of how important the issue is and must be
sorted out, then stress your desire to work in a comfortable, safe environment.
sorted out, then stress your desire to work in a comfortable, safe environment.
o
o Know when to have another plan.
Know when to have another plan.
o
o Once you’ve asked for help and nothing changes, you may need to consider
Once you’ve asked for help and nothing changes, you may need to consider
other options.
other options.
o
o It is important that you think of yourself first.
It is important that you think of yourself first.
7 o
o
o
o
Don’t stay in a negative environment just to prove a point.
Don’t stay in a negative environment just to prove a point.
If bullying is causing you a lot of stress, seek professional help.
If bullying is causing you a lot of stress, seek professional help.
o
o There are also legal steps you can take to help yourself. Investigate your
There are also legal steps you can take to help yourself. Investigate your
options thoroughly before making any decisions.
options thoroughly before making any decisions.
o
o Remember that you deserve a friendly, peaceful environment to work in ..
Remember that you deserve a friendly, peaceful environment to work in

10. Follow through...
Don
’ t gi
ve u
p
o Keep up your game, continue to take a stand and
Bully mu
st stop!
pressure the authority to stop the bully.
o Remain professional.
it
Demand
o If the bullying is causing you a lot of stress, you
need to seek professional and legal help.
o Calmly let the bully and your organization (HR,
your manager or supervisor) know that you are
stressed and you are going to seek legal advice.
o Remember that there are also legal steps you can take to help you but you must let your HR partner
and manager know that you will take this route if the bully continues.
o Investigate your options thoroughly before you make any decisions.
o Remember that you deserve a friendly, peaceful environment to work in just like everyone. So,
demand the friendly environment from your organization.
o If the system i.e. disciplinary hearing, grievance hearing or tribunal fails you, don't be despondent
about it.
o Keep on fighting, but know when to get to the next stage and make a final decision.

11. Make a desicion and plan
P
Move New environment
l
a
n
Plan
Feel victorious
Make a decision What are your options? Weigh them and
make a decision. Follow up with a plan to
move to a new department or decide that
life is too short and move to a bigger
organization where bullying is not tolerated
in any shape or form.

12. How to Deal with a Bully at Work: See These 7 Tips
Action to tackle bullying at work
Are you being bullied at work? 12 Tell-tale signs
12 Free products
two from each subject category! 10 Tips on dealing with female bullies at work
Case histories at bullying online
How to handle a workplace bully
Dr. Susan’s guide on surviving the bully at work
How to deal with bullying at work
rc es
ou
r
ne
or
es
U rC
r YO Caree
R Ca
Fo e’s
th
eri
n
OM
FR

13. http://catherinescareercorner.com